Of Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta
This post treads spoiler territory lightly–but we’re talking about ancient television anime, so it’s okay, right?
I’m actually on target to finish a good portion of my Universal Century Gundam backlog by the time I get my full Gundam Unicorn Blu-Ray treatment, and it wouldn’t do any justice to not talk about Mobile Suit Gundam and Gundam Zeta at all in the meanwhile. At the same time I feel that the nature of my viewing doesn’t lend itself to allow me to do justice on any sort of meaningful discussion, because I’m not watching them for the sake of enjoying them first and foremost. So if you disagree with me, you’re probably on to something.
Through the exercise of catching up, I’ve gained a new-found respect for the original Gundam TV series and the movie trilogy. I actually didn’t watch all of the original MSG TV, just parts of it. But despite being dated it was actually interesting. In fact it’s surprising to me that the movie version was not really better than the original series (although it is definitely the sane alternative for someone who just wants to catch up). For a point of comparison, the Turn-A Gundam movies were probably superior than the TV series if just for better cohesion alone.
On the other hand, I can’t really say any of that about Zeta Gundam TV. Not only because I didn’t watch the “New Translation” films, but also I just didn’t think Zeta TV was really what people crack it up to be. In fact I got through Zeta mostly because of Camille and the developing Tomino thematic parallels. I found myself caring less about Char and Amuro, less about the future of spacenoids and the fate of Earth, and less about the whole backstory and references to the 0080 and 0083 OAVs. It just wasn’t as interesting. In fact, I can understand (and agree with) why Tomino did the kill-them-all thing. It makes sense, as the nature of the series became more character-driven than rather idea-driven.
Confession: I almost fist-pumped when a particular MSG character went up in a glorious ball of light. I thought it was a good decision to do it, although the timing might be off.
Confession 2: Why do I care about Camille? Probably he is one of the most intriguing character I’ve seen in anime since…forever? It doesn’t mean I like him however and I still want to punch his whiny guts.
But it is still a great exercise. I enjoyed myself thoroughly. In some ways it made me appreciate Gundam 00 a lot more. Zeta and 00 share a lot of the same flaws, at the very least. It’s crystal clear now that Gundam 00 is a retooled, 21st century, post 9/11 version of Zeta… Too bad it comes from the perspective of a Gundam Wing-appeasing business rather than an animator outfit trying to prove himself and make something revolutionary. Well, to be fair, Zeta pushed pretty hard on the Char-is-your-wet-dream angle too…
I think the key difference is in the politicking. In all honesty, Mobile Suit Gundam and Gundam Zeta are closer to true space operas than most mecha shows. Just like how Battlestar Galatica is, well, not Star Trek Voyager. The narrative construct in which the very same, recycled themes play out between similar, oft-recycled characters differ pretty much only in the context that the viewers perceive them. If we’re told to put on our 9/11 jihad goggles, we’ll see a different world than if we were to look through a Rosy Revolution between dancing beautiful men and women. Or if we were told to perceive the meaning of “sora wo kakeru” as a Sunrise fanservice vehicle versus a mentally stunted, ex-mecha pilot.
Being a guy who enjoys post-shark-jumping anime harems, none of that really bothered me. Rather it came off with a certain charm, like looking at American or German WWII propaganda posters. The narrative in Zeta kept that breakneck Tomino pace and even if I didn’t like one thing, I didn’t have to dwell on it.
During my trek through Zeta, I kept thinking about Maya Okamoto‘s Emma. Why? Because it’s sort of amusing that I was able to meet and talk with her years ago, but without this huge swath of fanboy knowledge about the work she has done during the 80s and 90s, and all that Gundam chop. Amusing as in, “man I was an idiot” kind of way.
I’m not so different even now, I guess. And I know having caught up on UC Gundam probably made me a better person, if just a little.
With all that said, I’ll probably excuse myself from ZZ and V for now. Maybe another time.
The Zeta movies are pretty bad, and everyone probably knows already how they cheated by reusing TV animation instead of reanimating everything. But the new animation parts were very good, if not very disjointed.
There’s no mention of CCA? I take it that you watched it already then?
CCA is for later.
UC Gundam, especially CCA, makes a lot more sense if Char has erectile dysfunction. Seriously. He drives a bright red mecha, hits on young girls and has an alter-ego named Quattro Vagina. :P
Honestly I’ve never understood the whole fascination with UC. Certainly there are elements of it that are very good, or are ground-breaking in the case of the original. But on the flipside there’s horrible nonsensical rush-jobs like F91.
>> Honestly I’ve never understood the whole fascination with UC.
I think we both understand it, it’s just we don’t buy into it. It’s really clear that much of what makes up the UC Gundam world can be found in basically the combination of every non-UC Gundam show. And some later incarnations do the same sort of thing better, some do not.
All it makes me think is that maybe Turn-A Gundam is the end-all-be-all Gundam anime.